TITANIC: The last radio transmissions

On the night the Titanic struck an iceberg, a network of wireless operators on ships and land stations frantically communicated with each other across the expanses of the North Atlantic in an effort to mount a rescue mission. The surviving messages from a real-time record of the events of that night.

Luckily for us, a first-hand, real-time record exists of what happened over that terrible night in April 1912.

Unlike in the Hollywood films of the tragedy, these wireless messages are stoically understated. Copied out in neat copperplate handwriting, and kept on the ships that had been in contact with Titanic, they are the actual words of the crew and passengers.

The Marconi Wireless

Wireless was still a relatively young technology at the time of the Titanic's maiden voyage.

The Marconi company - the Edwardian equivalent of a top technology brand - had put its wireless operators on board some of the more prestigious ships.

The Titanic, as the showcase of an ambitious, optimistic era, had the biggest and best wireless equipment in the world. It was still something of a novelty and much of the initial wireless traffic was from first class passengers sending messages to their friends, rather like text messages showing off about a glamorous trip.

"Hello Boy. Dining with you tonight in spirit, heart with you always. Best love, Girl," read one message sent on to New York, the Titanic's intended destination.

A message sent on to Los Angeles said: "No sickness. All well. Notify all interested in poker."

"Fine voyage, fine ship," wrote another, unaware of the awful irony of how that might later sound.

The wireless operators sending these messages were independent young men of the modern age, who had been recruited with the promise of escaping "blind alley careers".

They chatted to wireless operators in other ships in a jaunty, mock public school slang, calling each other "old man".

As well as letting passengers send personal messages, they provided the first wireless news service for ships. News headlines of the day were concentrating on industrial unrest on the railways and a high-profile murder in France.

However the wireless was also beginning to be used for more serious purposes. Ships would give each other safety information and before the infamous disaster the Titanic received detailed advice about the location of icebergs - or "bergs, growlers and field ice" as one ship's captain described them. Unfortunately investigations after the sinking would never satisfactorily establish why these warnings had been ignored.

The senior wireless operator, Jack Phillips, had still been sending passengers' messages when the ship struck an iceberg. The collision was described as sounding like the tearing of calico.

With only enough room in the lifeboats for half the passengers and crew, the Titanic's captain turned to his only lifeline - the wireless - and asked the two Marconi operators to call for assistance.

The SOS

Wireless operators originally used Marconi's "CQD" distress signal. "CQ" was the signal to stop transmission and pay attention. The "D" was added to signal distress. In 1906 the International Radio Telegraphic Convention in Berlin created the signal "SOS" for summoning assistance. The letters were chosen for their simplicity in Morse Code - three dots, three dashes and three dots. While the "SOS" superseded "CQD" in 1908, the Marconi operators rarely used it. It became standard after the sinking of the Titanic.

The distress signal used by Marconi operators - CQD - boomed out over the Atlantic. The wireless operators joked they may as well also try another new distress signal that had been introduced - SOS - because they might never get a chance to use it again.

While the lifeboats were lowered, with awful goodbyes between husbands, wives and children, the wireless operators stuck to their task.

While these are not every wireless message to go from or to the Titanic, they are the most pertinent to the tragedy which befell the ship:

The Titanic's last wireless transmissions

1.40 p.m.14 April 1912S.S. Baltic to R.M.S. Titanic:"Captain Smith, Titanic. Have had moderate variable winds and clear fine weather since leaving. Greek steamer Athinai reports passing icebergs and large quantity of field ice today in latitude 41.51 N, longitude 49.52 W. Last night we spoke (with) German oil tanker Deutschland, Stettin to Philadelphia, not under control, short of coal; latitude 40.42 N, longitude 55.11 W. Wishes to be reported to New York and other steamers. Wish you and "Titanic" all success".

9.30 p.m.14 April 1912S.S. Mesaba to R.M.S. Titanic and All Eastbound Ships:"Ice report: In latitude 42 N to 41.25 N, longitude 49 W to 50.3 W. Saw much heavy pack ice and great number of large icebergs, also field ice. Weather good, clear".

9.38 p.m.14 April 1912S.S. Mesaba to R.M.S. Titanic:"Stand by".
(Stanley Adams, on the S.S. 'Mesaba', was waiting for the Titanic to indicate the message had been given to the captain. Jack Phillips did not respond, but continued to send passenger messages to Cape Race.)

11.00 p.m. (approx)14 April 1912R.M.S. Californian to R.M.S. Titanic:"Say, old man, we are stopped and surrounded by ice".

Between 11.35 and 11.45 p.m. (most likely the latter) Captain Smith informed Phillips and Bride that the ship had hit an iceberg, and to prepare a distress call. The captain returned at 12.15 a.m. and told them to send it.

12.15 a.m.15 April 1912R.M.S. Titanic to Any Ship:"CQD Titanic 41.44 N 50.24 W"
(CQD was the contemporary distress signal, though soon, the new distress signal would be put to use for the very first time).

(SOS was the first use of the new distress signal. So far, two ships had responded to the Titanic's distress call. They included the 'Frankfurt', nearly 170 miles away, and the 'Olympic', nearly 500 miles away.)

12.20 a.m.15 April 1912R.M.S. Titanic to R.M.S. Carpathia:"Come at once. We have struck a berg. It's a CQD, old man. Position 41.46 N 50.14 W"

12.21 a.m.15 April 1912R.M.S. Carpathia to R.M.S. Titanic:"I say old man, do you know there is a batch of messages coming through for you from MCC (MCC indicated Cape Cod) ?"

12.22 a.m.15 April 1912R.M.S. Titanic to R.M.S. Carpathia:"CQD CQD"

12.25 a.m.15 April 1912R.M.S. Carpathia to R.M.S. Titanic:"Shall I tell my captain? Do you require assistance?"

12.32 a.m.15 April 1912R.M.S. Carpathia to R.M.S. Titanic:"Putting about and heading for you".

12.40 a.m.15 April 1912R.M.S. Titanic to R.M.S. Carpathia:"SOS Titanic sinking by the head. We are about all down. Sinking. . ."

From 12.40 a.m. until the final message was sent from the Titanic sometime between
2.15 a.m. and 2.25 a.m. the Titanic, the 'Carpathia' and other ships kept a steady stream of messages, updating their progress and Titanic's condition.

The Titanic continued to send out general CQD and SOS messages, in the chance that there might be a closer ship.

12.45 a.m.15 April 1912Titanic calls 'Olympic', (sister ship - 500 miles away en route to England) "SOS" (first use of SOS by Titanic - Bride jokingly suggests to Phillips that it may be his last chance to use the new distress call).

1.00 a.m.15 April 1912Titanic replies to 'Olympic' and gives her position as 41.46 N. 50.14 W., and says, "We have struck an iceberg".

1.02 a.m.15 April 1912Titanic calls 'Asian' and said, "Want immediate assistance". 'Asian' answered at once and received Titanic's position as 41.46 N. 50.14 W., which was immediately taken to the bridge. Captain Smith instructs operator to have Titanic's position repeated.

1.02 a.m.15 April 1912'Virginian' calls Titanic but gets no response. Cape Race tells 'Virginian' to report to his Captain that the Titanic has struck iceberg and requires immediate assistance.

1.40 a.m.15 April 1912'Olympic' to Titanic, "Am lighting up all possible boilers as fast as (we) can".1.40 a.m.15 April 1912Cape Race says to 'Virginia', "Please tell your Captain this: "The 'Olympic' is making all speed for Titanic, but her ('Olympic) position is 40.32 N. 61.18 W. You are much nearer to Titanic. The Titanic is already putting women off in the boats, and she says the weather there is calm and clear. The 'Olympic' is the only ship we have heard say, "Going to the assistance of the Titanic. The others must be a long way from the Titanic".

1.45 a.m.15 April 1912Last signals heard from Titanic by 'Carpathia', "Come as quickly as possible old man: our engine-room is filling up to the boilers".

1.48 a.m.15 April 1912'Asian' heard Titanic call SOS. 'Asian' answers Titanic but receives no answer.DFT ('Frankfurt') calls Titanic and says, "What is the matter with u ?"1.50 a.m.15 April 1912Titanic says to 'Frankfurt', "You are a fool, stdbi - stdbi - stdbi and keep out".'Caronia' hears 'Frankfurt' working to Titanic. 'Frankfurt' according to position 172 miles from MGY (Titanic) at time first SOS sent out.

1.55 a.m.15 April 1912Cape Race says to 'Virginian', "We have not heard Titanic for about half an hour. Her power may be gone".

2.00 a.m.15 April 1912'Virginian' hears Titanic calling very faintly, her power being greatly reduced.

2.10 a.m.15 April 1912'Virginian' hears 2 V's signalled faintly in spark similar to Titanic's (Phillips adjusting his transmitter to compensate for the dying power supply from the engine room).

2.17 a.m.15 April 1912Virginian hears Titanic, call "CQ" (call to all ships) , but unable to read him. Titanic's signals end very abruptly as power suddenly switched off.(Phillips had actually intended to send "CQD DE MGY", however at this point there is a loss of all power to the radio room - water can be heard flooding the wheelhouse - Phillips says to Bride "Come on, let's clear out". Bride climbs to the roof of the officer's quarters and assist with launching collapsible Lifeboat B - Phillips disappears aft).

Sometime between 2.15 a.m. and 2.25 a.m.15 April 1912The final wireless message sent from the Titanic:R.M.S. Titanic to R.M.S. Carpathia: "SOS SOS CQD CQD Titanic. We are sinking fast. Passengers are being put into boats. Titanic."

Bride and Phillips left the wireless room after that message, after being urged to leave their post by Captain Smith. They made their way to the Boat-Deck and began trying to help the other men in the releasing of collapsible Lifeboat B. While neither of them immediately made it onto a lifeboat, both were rescued from the sea. Bride's feet were so severely frozen he could not walk. Phillips died of hypothermia on or near Collapsible lifeboat B, his body was never recovered.

2.17 a.m.15 April 1912'Virginian' called Titanic and suggested he should try emergency set, but heard no response.

2.20 a.m.15 April 1912'Virginian' to 'Olympic', "Have you heard anything about Titanic?" 'Olympic' says, "No. Keeping strict watch, but hear nothing more from Titanic. No reply from her".

2.20 a.m. (approx)15 April 1912This was the official time the Titanic foundered in 41.46 N. 50.14 W. as given by the 'Carpathia' in message to the 'Olympic'.

Between 2.20 a.m. and 9.00 a.m. April 15th, the 'Carpathia' and the other ships kept a steady stream of messages, updating their progress to reach the Titanic's last known position in order to rescue the survivors of the sinking in that "Fateful Night".

2.35 a.m.15 April 1912Mount Temple hears MPA ('Carpathia') send, "If you are there we are firing rockets".

2.40 a.m.15 April 1912MPA ('Carpathia') calling MGY (Titanic).

2.58 a.m.15 April 1912SBA ('Birma') thinks she hears Titanic so sends, "Steaming full speed for you. Shall arrive you 6.00 in morning. Hope you are safe. We are only 50 miles now".

3.00 a.m.15 April 1912MPA ('Carpathia') calling MGY (Titanic).

3.28 a.m.15 April 1912'La Provence' to 'Celtic', "Nobody has heard the Titanic for about 2 hours".

4.24 a.m.15 April 1912SBA ('Birma') says, "We are 30 miles S.W. off Titanic".

6.40 a.m.15 April 1912'Parisian' hears weak signals from MPA ('Carpathia') or some station saying Titanic struck iceberg. 'Carpathia' has passengers from lifeboats.

6.40 a.m.15 April 1912'Asian', with German oil tank in tow for Halifax asked what news of MGY (Titanic). Sends service (message) later saying heard MGY (Titanic) V. faint working.

8.07 a.m.15 April 1912'Baltic' sends following to 'Carpathia', "Can I be of any assistance to you as regards taking some of the passengers from you? Will be in position about 4.30 p.m. Let me know if you alter your position".

8.10 a.m.15 April 1912'Baltic' in communication with MPA ('Carpathia'), "Exchanged traffic re passengers, and get instructions to proceed to Liverpool".

"Completely destitute, no clothes," said one another. Words cost money - and a masterpiece of brevity reported: "Safe, Bert."

These poignant, first-hand reactions to the disaster had been gathered in an archive by John Booth, a Titanic historian and expert on old prints. But many were sold off at auction in the early 1990s.

Jack Phillips did not survive the sinking. But his heroism, staying at his post after being released from his duty by the captain, became an enduring part of the Titanic story.

Not least because one of the most influential templates for all future Titanic stories came from Harold Bride, his junior wireless operator.

Bride survived on an upturned lifeboat and then sold his story to the New York Times. His story was a global media sensation, setting the tone of heroic self sacrifice, with the first accounts of the band playing while the ship sank, with tales of selflessness and cowardice.

And he commemorated the role of Jack Phillips, unflinching, even when he knew better than anyone else that there was no chance of a rescue ship arriving in time.

"I will never live to forget the work of Phillips during the last awful 15 minutes," said Bride.
"I suddenly felt a great reverence to see him standing there sticking to his work while everybody else was raging about."